Przemek Karnowski
A mountain of a Polish center whose fundamental brilliance and unselfish play anchored Gonzaga's transformation into a national college basketball powerhouse.
Born 1993 (age 33)·Polish basketball player·Birthday: November 8·Millennials
Biography
Przemek Karnowski wasn't just a player for Gonzaga; he was an era. The 7'1", nearly 300-pound center from Poland arrived in Spokane as a skilled project and left five years later as the winningest player in NCAA Division I history. His game was a study in efficient, old-school dominance: impeccable footwork in the post, soft touch around the rim, and perhaps the most effective wide-bodied screens in college basketball, which freed a generation of Gonzaga shooters. Karnowski's leadership and persistence through a serious back injury that cost him a season cemented his legacy. He was the immovable core around which Mark Few built teams that shattered the 'mid-major' label, culminating in a run to the 2017 national championship game, where his battle with North Carolina's frontline became an instant classic.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Przemek was born in 1993, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Przemek Was Born
The biggest hits of 1993
#1 Movie
Jurassic Park
Best Picture
Schindler's List
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Przemek's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1993Born
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1998Started school
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2006Became a teenager
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Could drive
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2011Could vote
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Turned 21
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2023Turned 30
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 33 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Holds the NCAA Division I record for most career wins by a player (137).
- Helped lead Gonzaga to its first NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship game in 2017.
- Was a key starter on the 2015 Gonzaga team that reached the Elite Eight.
- Named the West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2015.
Did You Know?
He speaks four languages: Polish, English, Spanish, and Russian.
He missed the entire 2015-16 season after undergoing surgery for a debilitating back injury.
His nickname among Gonzaga teammates and fans was 'Big Shem'.
After his playing career, he returned to Gonzaga as a graduate assistant coach.
“You learn more from a hard-fought rebound than from any highlight dunk.”
